Amid NDA's silence, opp to intensify efforts for jt prez candidate

New Delhi, May 21 (PTI) As the Centre's ruling NDA maintained silence over its nominee for the presidential poll, major opposition parties plan to intensify efforts for finalising a joint candidate for the top post for which they are likely to approach regional players.

Opposition sources said efforts are on to bring political rivals Samajwadi Party and Bahujan Samaj Party on the same page, while also trying to rope in Naveen Patnaik's BJD in Odisha.

Senior opposition leaders at the forefront of the move to field a joint candidate against the NDA nominee are likely to meet SP chief Akhilesh Yadav, BSP supremo Mayawati and Patnaik over the next few days.

They could also approach the BJP's ally Shiv Sena. The two oldest saffron partners have been locked in rancorous disputes despite being coalition partners in governments at the Centre and in Maharashtra.

The talk of a consensus candidate gained momentum after Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar spoke in favour of a second term for incumbent Pranab Mukherjee and prodded the NDA government to build a consensus around him.

The Congress, to which Mukherjee belonged before becoming the President, has so far been non-committal on a second term for him. "It is up to the government to bring about a consensus among all on a candidate it proposes," a senior Congress leader said, and maintained the Modi dispensation was unlikely to support Mukherjee for a second term.

Despite BJP's emphatic victories in Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand, the NDA is still short of 20,000 electoral college votes to have the candidate of its choice occupy the top constitutional position.

The KCR Congress and the ruling TRS of Telangana have already promised to back the NDA nominee in the election.

Opposition sources said its candidate for the top post could be a non-Congressman. The names of former West Bengal governor, the euridite Gopal Krishna Gandhi, former Lok Sabha speaker Meira Kumar and JD(U) veteran Sharad Yadav are doing the rounds in political lobbies as possible opposition nominee.

The name of NCP chief Sharad Pawar has also been discussed by the opposition camp, but the astute Maharashtra politician has said he would not contest the poll.

The opposition, sources said, wanted to put up a candidate who has impeccable secular credentials, and who could "maintain secular supervision of the Indian Constitution." 

Congress president Sonia Gadhi has already held talks with key players like Sharad Pawar, Nitish Kumar, who is also the JD(U) president, CPI-M general secretary Sitaram Yechury, CPI leader D Raja, and West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee.

Sonia is likely to hold talks with some other leaders this week and among them could be BSP supremo Mayawati.

Sources in the Congress and some other parties said they wanted the opposition unity over the presidential election extended to the Lok Sabha election in 2019.

The Congress' communications department chief Randeep Surjewala said," All opposition parties including the Congress will work to build a consensus for a candidate with unquestionable record of dedication and commitment to the founding principles of Constitution, bereft of political colour or pressure from the ruling dispensation." 

"We want that India should have a president who can guide the government when it goes astray on being drunk with the brute majority and remind them of 'raj dharma'," he told PTI.

Senior JD(U) leader Sharad Yadav said the opposition should unite to put up a consensus candidate.

"We want secular supervision of Constitution. The President is the custodian of the Indian Constitution. We want a person whose secular credentials are impeccable," CPI(M) general secretary Sitaram Yechury told PTI.

"The President should do a secular supervision of the Indian Constitution and not a communal supervision," he said.

The term of Pranab Mukherjee ends on July 24 and the election has to take place before that.

"Kashmir is ours," says Rajnath, promises "permanent" solution

Pelling (Sikkim), May 21 (PTI) "Kashmir is ours, Kashmiris are ours and Kashmiriyat is also ours," Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh said today, asserting that the Modi government will find a "permanent solution" to the Kashmir problem.

The home minister's assertion came amid continued unrest in the Kashmir valley.

Addressing a public reception here in this tiny northeastern state, Singh accused Pakistan of trying to "destabilise" India by fomenting trouble in Kashmir.

"But I want to tell all of you that our government will find a permanent solution to the Kashmir issue," he said, without elaborating.

Kashmir is in a vice-like grip of violence since the killing of militant commander Burhan Wani in an encounter with security forces in July last year. Though there was a brief lull, violence erupted again on April 9 this year when the bypoll to Srinagar Lok Sabha seat was held. Normalcy has eluded the state since.

Eight people were killed in firing by security forces on the polling day and a paltry 7.14 per cent of the electors came out to vote, the lowest ever in the valley since the rise of militancy in 1989.

Bypoll for the Anantnag Lok Sabha seat was first deferred and then cancelled by the Election Commission which said the situation in the region was "scary".

Students have joined the protests like never before with even girls taking to streets, and fighting pitched battles with security forces.

Around 80 people had lost their lives as violence held the valley in a prolonged stranglehold in the aftermath of the killing of Burhan Wani, who had emerged as the posterboy of militancy in Kashmir.

Rajnath Singh said heads of government of all neighbouring countries, including Pakistan, were invited to the swearing-in ceremony of the Modi government in 2014 in an indication that India wanted friendly relations with them.

However, he deplored, there was no change in the "attitude" of Pakistan which wanted to "destabilise" India.

"We hope that Pakistan will change. If it does not change, we will have to change them. After globalisation, one country can't destabilise another country as the international community will not forget it," he said.

The home minister is on a three-day visit to Sikkim during which he attended a conference of Himalayan states to review the security situation and development activities along the Sino-Indian border.

He also visited the Nathu La border post, besides a few posts of the Indo-Tibetan Border Police and SSB along the Sino-India and Indo-Nepal border respectively.

EVM challenge to start from June 3: EC

New Delhi, May 20 (PTI) The challenge to prove that EVMs can be tampered with will start from June 3, the Election Commission announced today, asserting that the machines are tamper-proof.

The announcement came over a week after the Election Commission threw down the gauntlet to political parties to prove that the Electronic Voting Machines (EVM) used in the recent assembly polls were tampered with.

"The EVM challenge will start from June 3," Chief Election Commissioner Nasim Zaidi said, addressing a press conference.

He said people who had questioned reliability of EVMs have not yet submitted any proof or credible material to support their claim.

Zaidi said replacement of the internal circuit of EVMs is not possible at all.

"Our EVMs have strong technological features and are tamper-proof," he said.

Zaidi rubbished the Aam Aadmi Party's claim that EVMs could be tampered with, and said no manipulation of the machines is possible.

He also said that improving the election process is a responsibility of all stakeholders and the EC is taking all necessary steps in this regard.

Several major opposition parties had claimed that the faith of people in the machines has eroded.

The BSP and AAP had alleged that the machines used in the recent assembly elections in Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Manipur, Goa and Punjab were tampered with and favoured the BJP. Later, several other parties had joined the chorus and waned the EC to revert to paper ballots.

The EC has already announced that it will ensure paper trail of voting in all future elections to the Lok Sabha and state legislative assemblies.

ICJ stays Jadhav's execution

The Hague, May 18 (PTI) The International Court of Justice (ICJ) today stayed the execution of Indian national Kulbhushan Jadhav, who has been sentenced to death by a Pakistan military court on charges of espionage and subversive activities.

In a major boost to India, which has moved the UN's highest judicial body against the death sentence, the ICJ instructed Pakistan to take all "necessary measures at its disposal" to ensure that Jadhav was not executed pending a final decision by it.

The decision of the 11-judge bench was unanimous, ICJ President Ronny Abraham said while reading out the verdict.

The ICJ said that India should have been granted consular access to its national as per the Vienna Convention to which both countries have been signatories since 1977.

The ICJ asserted its jurisdiction over the case of the 46-year-old former Indian Navy officer while noting that the circumstances of his arrest remain disputed.

The ruling came three days after India and Pakistan gave their submissions in the case.

Pakistan claims its security forces arrested Jadhav from its restive Balochistan province on March 3 last year after he reportedly entered from Iran. However, India maintains that he was kidnapped from Iran where he had business interests after retiring from the Indian Navy.

Jadhav's case is the latest flashpoint in the tensions between Pakistan and India.

On May 8, India moved the ICJ against the death penalty, alleging violation of the Vienna Convention on Consular Relations. On May 9, the global court stayed the death sentence as a provisional measure.

Heated exchanges between Jaitley and Jethmalani in HC

New Delhi, May 17 (PTI) Heated exchanges were witnessed between Union Minister Arun Jaitley and senior advocate Ram Jethmalani in the Delhi High Court today during the former's cross-examination in a defamation case against Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal.

The recording of Jaitley's statement in a civil defamation suit of Rs 10 crore filed by him against Kejriwal and other AAP functionaries could not continue as the Minister objected to the use of a word against him by the veteran lawyer representing the Chief Minister.

The Finance Minister, who appeared before Joint Registrar Deepali Sharma, lost his cool and asked Jethmalani whether the word was used as per instructions from Kejriwal.

"If this is so, I would aggravate the charges against the defendant (Kejriwal)," Jaitley said, adding that there was a limit to personal malice.

Senior advocates Rajiv Nayar and Sandeep Sethi, who were representing Jaitley, also said that Jethmalani was putting scandalous questions and should restrain himself from asking irrelevant ones "as this matter is Arun Jaitley versus Arvind Kejriwal and not Ram Jethmalani versus Arun Jaitley".

To this, Jethmalani said he used the word on the instruction of Kejriwal.

However, Anupam Srivastav, advocate on record for Kejriwal since the beginning of the suit, submitted that he had no instruction on the use of the word.

A group of lawyers including Jethmalani who were defending the AAP leaders also maintained that Jaitley was not entitled to a claim of Rs 10 crore on account of his alleged defamation.

Jaitley has filed the civil defamation suit seeking Rs 10 crore damages from Kejriwal and five other AAP leaders -- Raghav Chadha, Kumar Vishwas, Ashutosh, Sanjay Singh and Deepak Bajpai -- for accusing him of financial irregularities in the DDCA of which he was the President from 2000 to 2013.

The verbal exchange between Jethmalani and Jaitley started when the former asked a question alleging that his article on irregularities in DDCA could not get published in a weekly magazine at the instance of the Finance Minister.

Jethmalani also alleged that the article pertained to the corruption in DDCA during the period when Jaitley was its President.

The question, however, was disallowed by Joint Registrar observing that she had already termed the article irrelevant on day of recording of the statement on the ground that it was not connected with the instant case. Jethmalani, however, insisted that it was.

He also alleged that Jaitley was "deceiving the people by concealing his guilt of crime." 

The counsel representing the Finance Minister vehemently opposed the choice of words by Jethmalani saying he must stop insulting the minister.

However, as Jethmalani continued his attack, the Joint Registrar objected to it and said the senior lawyer and other advocates were crossing the limit and should allow the court to proceed in the matter.

The court listed the matter for further cross-examination on July 28 and July 31 after Kejriwal's counsel asked the court to defer it.

Sensex, Nifty extend bull run, hit record highs

Mumbai, May 17 (PTI) Markets ended at record highs for the third straight session on Wednesday on sustained foreign inflows and persistent buying by retail investors buoyed by the early onset of monsoon and encouraging quarterly earnings.

The BSE Sensex closed at a new peak of 30,658.77, while the broader Nifty finished at an all-time high of 9,525.75 (rpt) 9,525.75.

After opening weak, the Sensex zoomed to hit yet another record intra-day high of 30,692.45, before slipping to 30,519.14 on profit-booking.

It finally finished at 30,658.77, up 76.17 points, or 0.25 per cent, surpassing the previous record close of 30,582.60 hit yesterday.

On similar lines, the NSE Nifty ended at 9,525.75, up 13.50 points or 0.14 per cent, breaking its previous record closed of 9,512.25 hit in yesterday's trade.

Hillary Clinton launches new political action group

Washington, May 16 (PTI) Former Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton has launched a new political action organisation to fight against US President Donald Trump's agenda and raise funds for five prominent progressive groups.

"I believe more fiercely than ever that citizen engagement at every level is central to a strong and vibrant democracy," Clinton said announcing the launch of her group 'Onward Together'.

"More than ever, I believe citizen engagement is vital to our democracy. I'm so inspired by everyone stepping up to organise and lead," the former Secretary of State, said to her supporters as she urged them to contribute to the "remarkable" spirit of political activism.

The announcement comes as Clinton, 69, works to find a new role in an evolving political landscape.

The new group's website said it aimed to advance progressive values and reminded visitors that Clinton had won nearly 66 million votes in November's showdown with Trump.

"Onward Together will work to build a brighter future for generations to come by supporting groups that encourage people to organise and run for office," wrote the former Secretary of State.

Clinton becomes the latest high-profile Democrat to launch an independent group. Former President Barack Obama, Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders, and 2004 Democratic nominee Howard Dean all helped create political organisations.

As of now, the new political action organisation would support five progressive groups: Swing Left, which targets vulnerable House Republican incumbents; Emerge America, which will train Democratic women to run for office; Colour of Change, which fights for criminal justice reform and racial justice; Indivisible, a group that's mobilising a "resistance" against Trump; and Run for Something, which helps potential candidates find tools to guide their bids.

"This year hasn't been what I envisioned, but I know what I'm still fighting for: a kinder, big-hearted, inclusive America. Onward!," Clinton said in one of the series of tweets she wrote yesterday.

Day of reckoning has come: FM on raids on Chidambaram, Lalu

New Delhi, May 16 (PTI) Finance Minister Arun Jaitley today defended searches at the homes of his predecessor P Chidambaram and his son as also RJD chief Lalu Prasad, saying the day of reckoning has come for many and they will be held accountable for their misdeeds.

Jaitley said the tax department or the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) do not act unless there is a "substantial basis and a reason to suspect" that there is a tax evasion or a crime has been committed.

"Now people in high positions acquiring assets through shell companies is not a small matter and I think the day of reckoning has come for many, they will all be held accountable," the finance minister told reporters here.

He was asked about the opposition charge against the government of using CBI and I-T department to go after opposition leaders.

"Unless there is a substantial basis and a reason to suspect that either there is evasion or a crime has been committed, these departments don't act. Because ultimately whatever action that is taken has to bear some results," he said.

The CBI today searched the homes of Chidambaram and his son Karti in a probe into alleged criminal misconduct in giving approval in 2007 for the sale of stakes in INX Media Pvt Ltd to offshore entities.

Separately, the income tax department conducted raids and surveys on at least 22 locations in Delhi and adjoining areas on charges of alleged benami deals worth Rs 1,000 crore linked to RJD chief Lalu Prasad and others.

Will bring new law, if triple talaq struck down: Centre to SC

New Delhi, May 15 (PTI) A new law to regulate marriage and divorce among the Muslim community would be brought, if all forms of divorce including triple talaq are struck down, the government today told the Supreme Court.

The Centre, which also sought that the issues of polygamy and 'nikah halala' should not be excluded from the ongoing deliberations, got an assurance from the apex court that these aspects were open and would be dealt with later.

The government termed all the three forms of divorce among the Muslim community - talaq-e-biddat, talaq hasan and talaq ahsan, as "unilateral" and "extra-judicial".

The apex court bench said the government has to first pass the test of "essentiality" and prove that 'triple talaq' is not an essential part of Islam, as this will amount to "tinkering" with religion.

A five-judge constitution bench headed by Chief Justice J S Khehar said "we are not only the guardian of the Constitution but also the guardian of minority rights" and will have to see if triple talaq formed a fundamental part of religion and pass the test of "essentiality" under Article 25.

The bench, also comprising Justices Kurian Joseph, R F Nariman, U U Lalit and Abdul Nazeer, asked if the court struck down all forms of talaq, then what options would a Muslim man be left with to come out of a marriage.

"The government will not leave the people high and dry once the instant form of divorce (triple talaq) or all forms of talaq are struck down. We will come out with a law to regulate the marriage and divorce among Muslim community," the Attorney General Mukul Rohatgi, appearing for Centre, said.

He said the issues of Muslim marriage and divorce were separated from religion in Shariat Act of 1937 itself and have been codified as personal law under Section 2 of the Act.

The apex court has to test them on the touch-stone of the fundamental rights of gender equality, justice, dignity, gender discrimination and human rights under constitutional provisions, including Articles 14, 15, 21 and 51A.

"All personal laws must be in confirmity with the Constitution. Rights of marriage, divorce, property and succession has to be treated in the same class and has to be in conformity with the Constitution," Rohatgi said.

The Attorney General also said what kind of religious practices are essential to a particular religion or faith was difficult to define for the court. But once such practices of marriage and divorce are separated from religion, there cannot be any immunity under Article 25 (freedom to practice any religion).

He said if the practice of talaq was out of Article 25, then it has to be constitutionally moral, which means it has to be secular and non-discriminatory.

"One half of a community in the country has to suffer inequality from their male counterpart. What may be permissible for society may not be constitutionally moral," he said.

To this, the bench observed if the government wanted social welfare and reforms, why can't it bring laws to correct the wrong.

"Yes, we can bring law. There is no law for past 60 years. It has not been done. But the court should first strike down these practices which are not in confirmity with the Constitution," he said.

Rohatgi said when half the population of a particular community is not empowered, no equal opportunity is given, they are devoid of gender equality, then it does not pass the test of constitutional morality.

He said even if triple talaq is considered as an essential part of religion and falls under Article 25, the practice still has to be constitutionally moral.

"Even if talaq is considered under Article 25, it has to be related to the fundamental rights and should abide by the principles of gender equality, non-discrimination and justice," the AG said.

Text of PM's address at Closing Ceremony of 'Namami Narmade - Narmada Sewa Yatra' in Amarkantak, Madhya Pradesh

The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi addressing at the concluding ceremony of the Narmada Sewa Yatra & launching of Narmada Sewa Mission, in Amarkantak, Madhya Pradesh on May 15, 2017.

विशाल संख्‍या में पधारे हुए मेरे प्‍यारे भाइयो और बहनों, 

हमारे शास्‍त्रों में एक मान्‍यता बनी हुई है कि अगर हम यात्रा कर नहीं सकते हैं, लेकिन किसी यात्री को अगर प्रणाम कर लें तो यात्रा का पुण्‍य प्राप्‍त होता है। तो मैं भी आप सभी यात्रियों को प्रणाम करके, जो पुण्‍य आपने कमाया है; वो आपसे कुछ हिस्‍सा मांग रहा हूं। लेकिन वो हिस्‍सा मैं मेरे लिए नहीं मांग रहा हूँ, आपकी ये यात्रा से कमाया हुआ पुण्‍य मां भारती के काम आए, सवा सौ करोड़ देशवासियों के काम आए, इस देश के गरीब से गरीबी की जिंदगी के बदलाव लाने में काम आए। 

और मुझे विश्‍वास है नर्मदा यात्रा ही है वो यात्रा जिसको नर्मदा परिक्रमा से जोड़ा गया है। और मैं इस शास्‍त्र से भली-भांति परिचित हूं, मैंने उस दुनिया को जीने का कभी प्रयास किया था, और उसमें मुझे पता है कि जब नर्मदा परिक्रमा करते हैं, तब अहंकार कैसे चूर-चूर हो जाता है; अहंकार कैसे मिट्टी में मिल जाता है। और परिक्रमा करने वाले व्‍यक्ति को मां नर्मदा जमीन पर लाकर खड़ा कर देती है। सारे बंधनों से मुक्‍त करा देती है। सारे पद-उपाधियों से अभिभूषित हो, उससे भी परिक्रमा के दौरान मुक्ति मिल जाती है। मां नर्मदा और नर्मदा के सेवक के बीच कोई द्ववैत नहीं बचता है, एक अद्वैत की अनुभूति होती है। आपने भी आज जब मां नर्मदा की इस महान सेवा करने का संकल्‍प किया है। 

जब वक्‍त बदलता है, तो कहां से कहां पहुंचा देता है। और जब अतिकार भाव प्रबल हो जाता है, कर्तव्‍य भाव क्षीण हो जाता है, तब ये समस्याएं पैदा होती हैं; जो आज हमें नर्मदा सेवा के लिए निकलना पड़ा। यही तो मां नर्मदा हैं जिसने हजारों साल से हमें बचाया है, हमें जीवन दिया है, हमारे पूर्वजों की रक्षा की है, लेकिन हमने अपना अधिकार मान लिया, हम कर्तव्‍य से विमुख हो गए, और मां नर्मदा से जितना लूट सकते थे लूटते रहे। अपने स्‍वार्थवश अपनी आवश्‍यकता के अनुसार मां नर्मदा की तो परवाह नहीं की, हमने अपनी परवाह जरूरी की। मन में वो अधिकार भाव था कि मैं मां नर्मदा पर तो मेरा अधिकार है, मैं उसको जैसे चाहूं वैसे उसका उपभोग कर सकता हूं, और उसी का परिणाम हुआ कि जिस मां नर्मदा ने हमें बचाया था, आज हमें उस मां नर्मदा को बचाने के लिए पसीना बहाने की नौबत आई है। अगर कर्तव्‍य भाव से हम विमुख न हुए होते, मां के प्रति हमारे कर्तव्‍यों को हमने निभाया होता तो मां नर्मदा, उसको बचाने की नौबत मनुष्‍य के जिम्‍मे नहीं आती। और इसलिए समय से रहते मध्‍य प्रदेश के मुख्‍यमंत्री, मध्‍य प्रदेश की जनता, वो सजग हो गई। 

हिन्‍दुस्‍तान में कई नदियां हैं, नक्‍शे पर निशान है, पानी का नामो‍-निशान नहीं। कई नदियां इतिहास के गर्त में खत्‍म हो चुकी हैं। हमारे देश में केरल में एक नदी है, शायद एक ही नदी है जिसका नाम भारत पर है; भारत पूजा। उस केरल की नदी बचेगी कि नहीं बचेगी, ये चिंता का विषय है। ऐसा तो नहीं था कि पानी के उपयोग के कारण नदी खत्‍म हुई है। नदी की रक्षा के लिए जिन तत्‍वों के साथ उस रक्षा का दायित्‍व होता है, वो अगर हम नहीं निभाएंगे तो मानव जाति को कितना बड़ा नुकसान होगा। 

हम भली-भांति जानते हैं कि मां नर्मदा बर्फीली पहाड़ियों से नहीं आती, बर्फ के चट्टानों से पिघल कर नहीं आती है। मां नर्मदा एक-एक पौधे के प्रसाद से प्रकट होती है और जो हम लोगों को जी हमारे जीवन को पुलकित करती है। और इसलिए मध्‍य प्रदेश सरकार ने मां नर्मदा के उज्‍ज्‍वल भविष्‍य के लिए, मां नर्मदा की गारंटी के लिए, सबसे प्रमुख काम हाथ में लिया है, वो है पेड़ लगाने का; वृक्षारोपण। हम जब पेड़ लगाएंगे तब हमें भी अंदाज नहीं होगा कि हम आने वाली पीढ़ियों की कितनी बड़ी सेवा कर रहे हैं। हमारे पूर्वजों ने जो तप किया, साधना की, सेवा की, उसी का परिणाम है कि‍ आज हम नर्मदा मैया का लाभ रहे रहे हैं। आज हम जो पुरुषार्थ करेंगे, आने वाली अनेक पीढ़ियां हमें याद करेंगी कि कोई एक वक्‍त था, जब मां नर्मदा को बचाने के लिए पेड़-पौधों की मदद ले करके फिर एक बार मां नर्मदा को पुनर्जीवन दिया गया था। 

करीब-करीब डेढ़ सौ दिन यात्रा ये असंभव कार्य है, लेकिन हमारे देश का दुर्भाग्‍य है कि जहां कहीं सरकार जुड़ जाए, जहां कहीं राजनेता जुड़ जाएं, तो सके महात्‍मय को खंडित करने का ही प्रयास होता है। वरना ये ऐसी घटना है, और मैं मध्‍य प्रदेश की जनता को नर्मदा यात्रा से जुड़े हुए, इस सेवा यात्रा से जुड़े हुए, लक्षावधि लोगों को, नर्मदा तट पर बसे हुए हर नागरिक को हृदय से बधाई देता हूं। ये ऐसी घटना है कि दुनिया के किसी देश में नदी की रक्षा के लिए डेढ़ सौ दिन तक इतनी तपस्‍या की गई होती, तो पूरे विश्‍व में उस की चर्चा हुई होती, पूरे विश्‍व में उसका जयकारा बोला गया होता, दुनिया के बड़े-बड़े टीवी चैनल इस घटना को अंकित करने के लिए दौड़ पड़ते। लेकिन ये हमारे देश का दुर्भाग्‍य है कि हम हमारी अपनी इन प्रयासों का वैश्विक सामर्थ्‍य क्‍या है, न उसको जान पाते हैं न समझ पाते हैं, और मौके गंवा देते हैं। 

आज कहीं एक Solar park लग जाए तो भी दुनिया में चर्चा होती है कि उस देश के उस इलाके में Solar park लगा है मानवता की रक्षा के लिए। ये नदी बचाने का इतना बड़ा काम हुआ है, पर्यावरण की रक्षा का इतना बड़ा काम हुआ है, 25 लाख से ज्‍यादा लोगों ने संकल्‍प लिए हैं, कोटि-कोटि जन उससे जुड़े हैं, शरीर को कष्‍ट दिया है, कठिनाइयों से गुजारे हैं दिन, स्‍वयं परिश्रम करके; पैदल चलके, मां पृथ्‍वी की रक्षा के लिए, नदी की रक्षा के लिए, पर्यावरण की रक्षा के लिए, मानवता की रक्षा के लिए, इतना बड़ा अहम कदम उठाया है। और इसका नेतृत्‍व करने के लिए मैं शिवराज जी को, उनकी पूरी टीम को, और मध्‍य प्रदेश की जनता को बधाई देता हूं। 

मेरा जन्‍म गुजरात में हुआ। नर्मदा की एक-एक बूंद पानी का मूल्‍य क्‍या है, वो गुजरात के लोग भली-भांति जानते हैं। और आज आपने जब नर्मदा के भविष्‍य के लिए इतना बड़ा अभियान उठाया है, तो मैं गुजरात के गांव की, किसानों की तरफ से, वहां के नागरिकों की तरफ से; राजस्‍थान के गाव की तरफ से, किसानों की तरफ से, वहां के नागरिकों की तरफ से; महाराष्‍ट्र के गांव की तरफ से, महाराष्‍ट्र के किसानों की तरफ से, महाराष्‍ट्र के नागरिकों की तरफ से, मध्‍य प्रदेश की जनता का, मध्‍य प्रदेश की सरकार का, मध्‍य प्रदेश के मुख्‍यमंत्री का अनेक-अनेक अभिनंदन करता हूं, उनका धन्‍यवाद करता हूं। 

इन दिनों देश में स्‍वच्‍छता अभियान, उसको अब एक ढांचागत व्‍यवस्‍था मिली है। लगातार Third party के द्वारा, हिन्‍दुस्‍तान में Evaluation हो रहा है। कौन सा राज्‍य में स्‍वच्‍छता का क्‍या चल रहा है, कौन सा शहर स्‍वच्‍छ है। जन-भागीदारी, लोकतंत्र की सबसे बड़ी ताकत होती है। और अगर हम जन-सामर्थ्‍य, जन-शक्ति, जन-भागीदारी, इसकी उपेक्षा करेंगे तो सरकारें कुछ भी करने में समर्थ नहीं होती हैं। कितने ही अच्‍छे विचार क्‍यों न हों, कितना ही अच्‍छा नेतृत्‍व क्‍यों न हो, कितनी ही अच्‍छी व्‍यवस्‍था क्‍यों न हो, लेकिन जन-समर्थन के बिना कभी भी कोई चीज सफल नहीं होती है। और जन-समर्थन से कैसे सफल होती है, इसका उत्‍तम उदाहरण मध्‍य प्रदेश ने प्रस्‍तुत किया है। 

पिछली बार जब सर्वेक्षण हुआ तब स्‍वच्‍छता की दिशा में मध्‍य प्रदेश का नाम बदनामी की सीमा में आ गया था, लेकिन मध्‍य प्रदेश ने मन में ठान ली, ये कलंक मिटाने का संकल्‍प किया, जन-जागरण किया, जन-भागीदारी बढ़ाई, जन-जन को जोड़ा, और आज मैं मध्‍य प्रदेश को बहुत-बहुत बधाई देता हूं। देश में जो hundred city सफाई के लिए आकलन किया गया, उन hundred में, 100 में 22 मध्‍य प्रदेश के हैं। ये बहुत बड़ी सिद्धि है। हिन्‍दुस्‍तान के और राज्‍यों को भी प्रेरणा देने वाला काम, स्‍वच्‍छता की दिशा में मध्‍य प्रदेश ने जन-भागीदारी से करके दिखाया। इंदौर और भोपाल हिन्‍दुस्‍तान के Top पर पहले और दूसरे नंबर पर आये। 

100 में से 22 शहर स्‍वच्‍छता के अंदर अग्रिम पंक्ति में आ जायें, इसका मतलब ये हुआ कि पूरे राज्‍य में प्रशासन ने, शासन ने, जनता-जनार्दन ने इसे अपना काम माना। और उसी का परिणाम हुआ है ये नर्मदा योजना सेवा यात्रा की सफलता। ये सफलता भी सरकार की ताकत के भरोसे नहीं हुआ है, ये जनता-जनार्दन की ताकत के भरोसे हुआ है। और जनता की ताकत जब जुड़ती है तो कितने बड़े परिणाम आते हैं; शिवराज जी ने 6 करोड़ का लक्ष्‍य रखा है, 2 जुलाई को पेड़ लगाने का। और उन्‍होंने ये 6 करोड़ पेड़ की व्‍यवस्‍था के लिए भी पिछले डेढ़ साल से लगातार काम कर रहे हैं; ये जो ये अचानक नहीं हो रही है। उसके लिए नर्सरी के अंदर सारी व्‍यवस्‍थाएं करी, की जाती हैं तब जा करके होती है। लेकिन हम जैसे परिवार में एक संतान की देखभाल करते हैं, वैसे ही इन नए हम बोने वाले पेड़-पौधों की माहवजत करेंगे, चिंता करेंगे, तब जा करके वो वटवृक्ष तैयार होगा। 

हमारे यहां शास्‍त्रों में कहा जाता है जो एक साल का सोचता है वो आनाज बोता है, लेकिन जो आगे का, भविष्य का सोचता है, वो फलदार वृक्ष बोता है। ये फलदार वृक्ष बोने का काम, ये आने वाले दिनों में अनेक परिवारों को एक आर्थिक गारंटी का भी कारण बनने वाला है। मुझे विश्‍वास है कि मध्‍यप्रदेश सरकार ने जो बीड़ा उठाया है और जो उन्‍होंने कार्य योजना बनाई है उस कार्य योजना की किताब मुझे उन्‍होंने पहले पहुंचाई थी, मैंने उसका अध्‍ययन किया; हर किसी के लिए उसमें काम है, हर जगह के लिए काम है; कब करना, कैसे करना, उसका विधि-विधान है; कौन किस काम को देखेगा इसका पूरा प्रारूप है; एक प्रकार से perfect document हैं future vision का। मैं देश के अन्‍य राज्‍यों से भी आग्रह करूंगा और शिवराज जी से भी आग्रह करूंगा कि हिन्‍दुस्‍तान के सभी राज्‍यों को एक किताब भेजें और प्राकृतिक संसाधनों की रक्षा का तरीका क्‍या होता है; मध्‍य प्रदेश को एक नमूना के रूप में, एक उदाहरण के तौर पर, उसे ले करके सब अपनी-अपनी योजना बनाएं। 

जल ही जीवन है, ये तो हम कहते हैं; नदी माता, ये हम कहते हैं; लेकिन हमारी पूरी अर्थव्‍यवस्‍था उसी पर आधारित है। उसके बिना अर्थव्‍यवस्‍था खोखली हो जाती है। अगर आज मध्‍य प्रदेश में कृषि विकास 20 प्रतिशत पहुंचा तो उसमें सबसे बड़ा योगदान माता नर्मदा का है। ये ताकत है, किसान की जिंदगी बदलने की ताकत, ये माता नर्मदा में है। 

2022 तक हिन्‍दुस्‍तान के किसान की आय दोगुना करने का संकल्‍प ले करके पूरे देश में काम चल रहा है, मध्‍य प्रदेश ने उसकी पूरी योजना तैयार कर दी है। और उसका लाभ किसानों के सहयोग से हिंदुस्तान के हर गांव को मिलेगा, ये मेरा विश्‍वास है। 

भाइयो, बहनों! 2022, आजादी के 75 साल हो रहे हैं। क्‍या हिन्‍दुस्‍तान के सवा सौ करोड़ देशवासी हर पल 2022 का स्‍मरण नहीं कर सकते हैं? हर पल आजादी के 75 साल की याद नहीं कर सकते हैं? जिन महापुरुषों ने देश के लिए बलिदान दिया, जीवन लगा दिया, जवानी जेलों में खपा दी, कुछ फांसी के तख्‍ते पर चढ़ गए, जिन्‍होंने अपने जीवन के परिवार के परिवार तबाह कर दिए; मां भारती की आजादी के लिए क्‍या उनके सपनों को याद करते हुए हम संकल्‍प नहीं कर सकते कि 2022 तक, व्‍यक्ति के नाते मैं देश के लिए इतना करूंगा, परिवार के नाते इतना करूंगा, समाज के नाते इतना करूंगा। हम गांव के लोग मिलके ये करेंगे; हम नगर के लोग मिल करके ये करेंगे; हम संस्‍था के नाते ये काम करेंगे, हम समाज के नाते ये काम करेंगे, हम राज्‍य के नाते, देश के नाते ये संकल्‍प करेंगे। 

2022, ‘नया भारत’ बनाने का सपना ले करके चलना है। हर हिन्‍दुस्‍तानी को जोड़ना है। आजादी के आंदोलन में जैसे देश जुड़ गया था; देश को नई ऊंचाइयों पर ले जाने के लिए, ‘नया भारत’ बनाने के लिए हर देशवासी को जोड़ना है। और इसलिए मैं आग्रह करूंगा, देशवासियों से आग्रह करूंगा, मैं मध्‍य प्रदेश के सभी संगठनों से आग्रह करूंगा; आप भी मिल-बैठ करके तय करिए कि 2022 तक देश के लिए आपकी संस्‍था, आपका परिवार, आपका समाज, आपका संगठन, आपका दल क्‍या करेगा; आप लोग तय कीजिए। एक बार देश में माहौल बने, अभी हमारे पांच साल हैं। पांच साल में हम देश को कहां से कहां पहुंचा सकते हैं। मुझे विश्‍वास है अगर सवा सौ करोड़ देशवासी एक कदम देश के लिए आगे चल पड़ेंगे तो देश पांच साल के भीतर-भीतर सवा सौ करोड़़ कदम आगे निकल जाएगा। और इसलिए हम इस संकल्‍प को ले करके चलें। 

मैं आज पूज्‍य अवधेशानंद जी का विशेष आभारी हूं, जो आाशीर्वचन उन्‍होंने मेरे लिए कहे हैं, जो भाव उन्‍होंने प्रकट किए हैं; मैं ईश्‍वर से यही प्रार्थना करूंगा कि हम सब में वो क्षमता आएं, वो अच्‍छाइयां आएं, वो समर्पण का भाव आए; ताकि देश की सही सेवा करने के लिए हम अपने-आप को योग्‍य पाएं, योग्‍य बना पाएं। मैं उनके इस आशीर्वाद वचन के लिए हृदय से बहुत-बहुत आभार प्रकट करता हूं और उनको प्रणाम करता हूं। 

मैं आप सबको भी हृदय से बधाई देता हूं, और जैसा शिवराज जी ने कहा, यात्रा का यहां विराम है; लेकिन अब यात्रा में जो भी सोचा, जो भी देखा, जो भी किया, इसको चरितार्थ करने का यज्ञ शुरू हो रहा है। ये सेवा का यज्ञ शुरू हो रहा है। यात्रा समाप्‍त हुई, यज्ञ आरंभ हुआ। यज्ञ में आहुति देनी पड़ती है, समय देना पड़ता है, अपनी सारी इच्‍छा- आकांक्षाओं को समाज के लिए अहुत करनी पड़ती है। मुझे विश्‍वास है ये नर्मदा के उज्‍ज्‍वल भविष्‍य का यज्ञ आप सबके सफल प्रयत्‍नों से और अवश्‍य नई ऊंचाइयों को प्राप्‍त करेगा। इसी एक भावना के साथ आप सब मेरे साथ बोलेंगे- दोनों मुट्ठी बंद करके, हाथ ऊपर करके बोलेंगे- मैं कहूंगा नर्मदे, आप कहेंगे सर्वदे। 

नर्मदे – सर्वदे 

आवाज मां नर्मदा के उस किनारे तक पहुंचनी चाहिए, खम्‍बात की खाडी तक। 

नर्मदे – सर्वदे 

नर्मदे – सर्वदे 

बहुत-बहुत धन्‍यवाद।